Should Christians get involved in wars?

Fri, Nov 11. 2011

Editor: I can’t help but think of an experience that took place in recent times involving a particular church.{{more}}

I ask: How could a pastor stand on a pulpit and be blessing a “christian” gentleman who is about to leave our shores to go to England to join the army there? Could that pastor be blessing this gentleman to eventually kill one of his own brothers in another country? That is highly possible. Is it really right for a Christian to take part in fighting wars? Since then, this question dawned on me real hard.

Imagine this scenario: Brother E… is a christian who leaves St.Vincent to join the army in England. Brother L… is a Christian living in Libya, and he is part of the Libyan army. Brother E visits Brother L in Libya. He greets him lovingly and shows him affection. Brother L does likewise. Eventually, England goes to war with Libya. Both Brothers E and L are called up to fight for their countries. They encounter each other on the battlefield. They shoot at each other, attempting to kill, and possibly Brother E kills Brother L, or vice versa. Is that Christian love- Christians attempting to kill each other? I DO NOT think so.

Moreover, when a pastor in England prays for England to come off victorious in the war, what is the pastor in Libya praying for as to the outcome of the war? Would God really listen to such a prayer? Could God be backing Brother E against Brother L, or Brother L against Brother E, both being His Servants?

I do think that the churches need to revisit this matter. This Scripture keeps coming to my head – Titus 1:16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient…” Do the churches really follow the pattern that Christ set? If Christ and his apostles were living today, I am sure that they would not have gotten involved in wars. I am 100 per cent certain that the apostle Paul would never have taken up a gun and attempt to shoot at the apostle Peter or Philip if they live in opposing countries that are at war with each other. Neither would the apostle Peter or Philip shoot at Paul. They would have kept on obeying Christ’s counsel at John 13:34 and John 15:12, 13, to love one another, even willing to die for each other; not shoot or bomb one another. Yes, the Israelites fought wars in the past, but that was God’s way of getting rid of bad people, Canaanites, Philistines, Ammonites etc; NOT God’s people killing one another. So today’s wars are different from those that the Israelites fought. I call on all Pastors, Reverends, Bishops, Deacons, Fathers etc. to carefully examine the aforementioned information. You and your flocks should be “proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Ephesians 5:10. Also, the churches must remember that God will judge us all for what we do, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14. Today’s wars are evil. I ask yet again: Should Christians really get involved in wars?

Objective, SC!